BLSA Membership Handbook - Penn State Law

BLSAHANDBOOK
Greetings!
On behalf of the entire Dickinson Chapter of the Black Law Students Association (“BLSA”), I would
like to thank you for your interest and participation in this wonderful organization. At Penn State
Law, BLSA has a long tradition of fostering academic excellence, leadership, and social awareness. As
a result, many of our alumni have gone on to excel in the legal profession in a wide variety of fields.
With the continued support of Penn State Law’s dedicated faculty and staff, the Dickinson Chapter of
BLSA has developed a reputation for being the most active student organization in the law school. Our
annual programs range from academic workshops to dynamic speaking engagements to unparalleled
cultural and social events. We strive to present programs that help cultivate a well-rounded student
body.
The Dickinson Chapter is part of the nation’s largest student-run organization, the National Black
Law Students Association (“NBLSA”), which has over 6000 members in every state and in several
foreign countries. This affiliation allows our members to gain national exposure in the legal
community by attending and participating in national and regional NBLSA events. Last year,
Dickinson Chapter members traveled to Philadelphia, PA, Washington, DC, Houston, TX and Dallas,
TX to participate in job fairs, conventions, and community service events; as well as to compete in
NBLSA’s moot court & mock trial competitions. It was quite an exciting year!
This year, we plan to take our annual programs to new heights. We will be hosting several academic
and career development workshops which will focus on strategic study methods and improving
professional networking skills. Our cultural programs will include movie nights, panel discussions,
and our flagship “Poetry Cipher” event. Our community service programs will focus on community
uplift and outreach. Through these community service programs we will be partnering with Habitat
for Humanity in Harrisburg, PA and a pro-bono initiative sponsored by Philadelphia Volunteers for
Indigent Persons in Philadelphia, PA. And last but not least, our social programs will include social
mixers, a welcome back party, a bowling night and a football tailgate. We invite you to attend,
participate, and most importantly, GET INVOLVED!
Membership in the Dickinson Chapter is open to all matriculated Penn State Law students and we do
not discriminate on any basis. We encourage students from all backgrounds to join us on our mission
to help diversify the legal community. Don’t be shy!
Lastly, I hope you have an excellent year and I look forward to seeing you at many of our events.
Sincerely,
Dave Dambreville
President
Black Law Students Association | Dickinson Chapter
dpd166@dsl.psu.edu